Nail-holding attachment for hammers.



h J. s. JOHNSON. 1

NAIL HOLDING ATTACHMENT FOR HAMMER-S. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15, 1905. RENEWED APR. 3, 1908. 903,095, Patented Nov.3, 1908.

JOSEPH S. JOHNSON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

NAIL-HOLDING ATTACHIMENT FOR HAMMERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

Application filed November 15, 1905, Serial No. 287,437. Renewed April 3, 1908. Serial No. 424,932.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH S. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, county of San Francisco, and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Nail-Holding Attachments for Hammers, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

My invention relates to a device which is designed to be attached to hammers in such a manner as to hold the nail until the latter has been started in driving.

It consists in the combination of parts, and in details of construction which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows the application of my device. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a rubber clasp. Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing a steel clasp.

It is difficult to properly hold nails to start them when being driven in contracted and inaccessible places; and it is the object of my invention to provide a means connected with the hammer by which the nail can be started so as to be afterwards driven.

As shown in the drawings, A is the head of a hammer of the ordinary construction, having a short extension B on the inner side which provides the socket for the hammer handle.

D is the face by which the nails are driven.

2 is a clasp which may be made of rubber, of flattened steel, or any material having sufiicient elasticity for the purpose, and this clasp is adapted to inclose and hold upon that portion of the hammer shank between the handle socket and the driving face. If made of rubber it forms a thin tube which can be easily slipped on over the driving face and will clasp the shank with sufficient power. If made of steel or elastic springs these springs may be curved to inclose more than half of the shank and have sufficient elasticity to maintain the hold of the device upon the shank, as shown in Fig. 3. This portion of the device has a groove or channel 3 upon one side, which groove or channel is of such a character as to receive the shank of a nail, and the attachment is so placed that this channel, substantially parallel with the shank of the hammer head, is in line with the portion B which extends from the head proper, and as previously stated, forms the socket for the handle. Thus when a nail is placed in this channel 3, the head will contact with the metal handle socket and the point projecting at right angles with the handle may be struck into the work where it is to be driven, by a light blow of the hammer. The channel 3 being open upon its outer side and having elastic sides it is then only necessary to push the hammer slightly forward to release the nail from the channel, leaving it in the wood. The head of the hammer may then be used as in the ordinary manner for completing the driving of the nail.

This device may be easily removed from, or replaced upon the hammer as required.

Having thus described my invention, what -I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- An attachment for hammers consisting of an undivided tube of elastic material adapted to be stretched and passed over the head of a hammer and to embrace the shank of the hammer and be held by frictional engagement therewith, said tube being thickened at one side and said thickened portion being slotted longitudinally and having a nail holding channel at the base of the slotted portion.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH S. JOHNSON. Witnesses:

ANDREW THORNE, EUGENE W. LEVY. 

